This week sees some of the UK’s highest profile personalities from the worlds of politics, education, business and sport return to the classroom to teach children in some of the most challenged areas of London, Manchester and the Midlands. They are participating in Teach First Week, an annual event designed to highlight the efforts of hundreds of active Teach First teachers who are helping to raise expectations and achievement in UK schools, and celebrate the work of the charity Teach First in addressing educational disadvantage across the board.
Among this year’s guest teachers are:
- Baroness Warsi, Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action
- Alastair Campbell, former Head of Communications at 10 Downing Street
- Christine Ohoruogu, Olympic Gold Medallist
- Darren Campbell, 100m athlete turned football coach
- Professor Alison Richard, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge
- Andrew Dilnott, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford
- Professor Michael Wright, Vice-Chancellor, Canterbury Christ Church University
- Russell Chambers, Senior Adviser to Credit Suisse UK
Participants will swap the dispatch box, lecture theatre, training field or committee room for a classroom of 30 young men and women in one of several inner city comprehensives. Each will have to prepare and teach one lesson in a subject of their choice, and use their extensive professional and personal experiences to reach out to a room full of students; inspiring them to achieve academic success.
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action said:
‘Teach First has captured the imaginations of our top graduates and shown them that tackling educational disadvantage is one of the most exciting things they can do. Teach First teachers now play an integral role in raising aspirations and achievement in the UK’s most challenging schools, and I’m delighted to take up this opportunity to highlight their impact.’
Alastair Campbell, former Head of Communications at 10 Downing Street, said:
'The countries that will do best in the future are those which educate their people best today and education, education, education remain the right priorities. I have supported Teach First since its inception. It is a great way of ensuring that some of the brightest and the best graduates learn about, and then hopefully speak up about, the importance of teaching and education. I have met graduates who have been part of Teach First, and pupils who have learned from Teach First graduates, and was impressed by the enthusiasm of both.’
Russell Chambers, Senior Advisor at Credit Suisse, said:
“Investing in the education and skills of young people has never been more important. Teach First recruits not only display excellent leadership skills, but demonstrate enthusiasm, inventiveness and commitment towards tackling educational disadvantage across the board. Credit Suisse has been a supporting partner of Teach First since its inception, and I am delighted to participate in this challenge.”
Serial entrepreneur, John Pocock, who is currently Chair of three companies, said:
“Inspiring teachers have the ability to transform the lives of the young people they teach. I’m delighted to be taking part in Teach First Week to celebrate the work the charity has done to engage some of our brightest minds in this most important profession.”
David Beaty, Regional Commercial Director East Midlands, HSBC, said:
“HSBC wants to give children in deprived areas the education they deserve. Our support for Teach First helps us to nurture and develop the talent of top graduates as well as invest in the next generation. I’ve been impressed by the impact of the initiative in Nottingham, and only hope I will live up to the Teach First standard in my own teaching.”
Andrew Dilnott CBE, Principal, St Hugh’s College, University of Oxford said:
“Teach First has done a fantastic job to engage our brightest young people in the challenges of education in our most disadvantaged schools, and we at St Hugh’s have sought to support that through the development of a Bursary Scheme for all graduates moving on to Teach First. Teach First teachers are also role models for their pupils, with the power to inspire them to go on and apply for the best universities. I only hope my lesson will live up to their example!”
Professor Michael Wright, Vice Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, said:
"Canterbury Christ Church University has been delighted to work with Teach First to attract and train graduates who might not otherwise think of teaching, and therefore miss out on the huge array of skills and experiences it can offer. I'm pleased, through Teach First Week, to be getting into the classroom to share in those experiences for myself."
Brett Wigdortz, Chief Executive, Teach First said:
“Teach First has had a wonderful year and we are thrilled that leaders from so many fields have got involved in Teach First Week 2008. Their support will help us to encourage the whole community to join together with teachers - who work tirelessly in schools across the UK every day - to tackle educational disadvantage.”
Teach First was founded in 2002 and is a groundbreaking business-educational partnership, which attracts the best graduates to work as inspirational, effective teachers in some of the UK’s most challenged secondary schools in London, the North West and the Midlands.
Following a two year teaching placement, Teach First Ambassadors are supported to continue to address educational disadvantage through teaching, mentoring, social entrepreneurship and policy making.
Notes to Editors
Teach First
- Teach First’s mission is to address educational disadvantage by transforming exceptional graduates into effective, inspirational teachers and leaders in all fields. Teach First targets high calibre students who would not normally consider a career in teaching and places them in challenged secondary schools – where more than a third of pupils are eligible for free school meals – for the course of the two year placement.
- Teach First recruits, trains and supports participants as teachers and long-term leaders over a two year training programme.
- The Programme begins with three weeks intensive training run by universities in their respective locations (London, the North West and the Midlands), before recruits all join up together for a further three weeks at Canterbury Christ Church University, one of the country’s most successful teacher education providers. This sets participants on the path to achieving the award of Qualified Teacher Status by the end of the first year. Participants continue to receive leadership training and support to develop their teaching expertise throughout their second year.
- All teachers receive leadership training from Tanaka School of Business. School placements last two years, at which point participants can continue teaching or pursue another career.
- Teach First is an independent charity Reg. No. 1098294 that is supported by all the main political parties, the National Union of Teachers, graduate organisations and over eighty leading employers. Teach First is ranked 9th in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers.
For more information please contact Natalie Whitty at natalie.whitty@portlandpr.co.uk or tel: 020 7842 0159; 07737 989672 |
